Category Archives: News

Chandra graduates basic training

Air Force Airman Vipul P. Chandra graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Chandra is the son of Prakash and Kusum Chandra of Coyote Road, West Sacramento.

He is a 2009 graduate of River City High School, West Sacramento.

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Copyright News-Ledger 2012

650 families get a Christmas dinner

Volunteers -- at least some of them -- working at the West Sacramento Christmas Basket Project distribution point on Saturday. Helena Helmold, longtime organizer of the charity, is second from left. (News-Ledger photo)

NEWS-LEDGER — DEC 26, 2012 —

By Steve MarschkeNews-Ledger Editor

Friday afternoon found several dozen people huddled out of the way of the drizzle, under the eaves of Community Lutheran Church on Drever Street. They were clients waiting in line for an annual West Sacramento tradition.

It was time for the holiday food and toy distribution by the “West Sacramento Christmas Basket Project,” a longtime local charity that specializes in putting together a Christmas meal box for the needy. The Christmas Basket Project had borrowed the church to assemble the boxes and pass them out to locals who signed up to get them.

How many people took advantage of the offer this year?

“I’m not really positive, but I think it is about 650 families right now,” said the project’s chairman, Helena Helmold. “That’s considerably lower than what we’ve had in the past.”

Helmold said some confusion with a Yolo County Food Bank project may have prevented some people from signing up for her program in 2012.

The program also collects and distributes Christmas toys for the needy.

[adrotate group=”7″] What’s in the food box depends a little bit about the size of the family that signs up.

“There’s poultry, vegetables, fruit, soup, potatoes, bread, rice, beans and pasta,” said Helmold. Families of one or two people receive a big Foster Farms roasting chicken; larger families get a holiday turkey. They received a voucher to redeem for their bird at Safeway.

The project had a lot of time finding a space to use for assembling and passing out the gift boxes. But Friday and Saturday found a jovial bunch of volunteers working away at Community Lutheran Church.

“Without the generosity of the church, I don’t know where we’d be,” said Helmold.

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Copyright News-Ledger 2012

How to recycle that Christmas tree

FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER NEWSPAPER —

There are several ways for West Sacramento residents to recycle their stripped-down Christmas tree. Remove all tinsel, flocking, etc. Cut the tree into small enough sections that it can fit into a yard waste cart, and either put it into the cart or else bundle it next to the cart on your next service day. Or take the tree to the county landfill, 44090 C.R. 28H for free drop-off Monday-Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or Sunday 9-2 (closed New Year’s Day).

You can support local journalism, support this website, and see all the News-Ledger’s articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledge newspaper. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento – once a week, delivered to your mailbox.

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Copyright News-Ledger 2012

Rotary chips in for youth boxing

Don Schatzel of the Centennial Rotary Club in West Sacramento (one of two local Rotary chapters) presents a check for $200 to Louie Campos, for use in the city’s summer youth boxing program. (News-Ledger photo)

FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER — DEC 19, 2012 —

The boxing program is organized in collaboration with the City of West Sacramento and the Broderick and Bryte Main Event Coalition, with Tony “The Tiger” Lopez and other boxing luminaries helping out.

Upcoming is the program’s third summer.

[adrotate group=”9″] “We had about 60 last year, including about 17 girls,” reported Campos. “They all want to be champions!”

Copyright News-Ledger 2012

New Year’s Eve fireworks show

FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER — DEC 19, 2012 —

RIVER WALK PARK IS A GOOD SPOT TO WATCH THE SHOW:

New Year’s Eve festivities in Old Sacramento will include a couple of fireworks shows, along with other entertainment.

[adrotate group=”10″] The fireworks will be launched from West Sacramento’s riverfront and can be viewed from either Old Sacramento or the West Sacramento rivefront near the ziggurat building, Tower Bridge, Raley Field and the CalSTRS tower.

The “main event” fireworks show will be at midnight on New Year’s Eve (Monday, Dec. 31), but it will be preceded by a 9 p.m. show “for children and families.”

Entertainment acts start at 6 p.m. in Old Sac.

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Copyright News-Ledger 2012

DUI checkpoint in West Sac Friday

NEWS-LEDGER ONLINE — DEC 27, 2012 —

The West Sacramento Police Department has announced that it will operate a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, Dec. 28, somewhere in city limits. At the checkpoint, motorists will be screened for signs of intoxication and their licenses will be checked. The checkpoint will last from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., reports Lieutenant Tod Sockman of the WSPD.

“The deterrent effect of DUI checkpoints is a proven resource in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug involved crashes,” Sockman added in a press release. “Research shows that crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough.”

“Officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment,” said Sockman. “Officers will also check drivers for proper licensing and will strive to delay motorists only momentarily. When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000.”

[adrotate group=”7″] In 2010, over 10,000 people were killed nationally in motor vehicle traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher. In California, this deadly crime led to 791 deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver.

“Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have claimed 2 lives and resulted in 34 injury crashes harming 44 of our friends and neighbors (in West Sacramento)” , according to Sockman.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says checkpoints have provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while also yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent. Based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests, DUI checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence. Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public.

“DUI Checkpoints have been an essential part of the phenomenal reduction in DUI deaths that we witnessed since 2006 in California,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety, in a press release. “But since the tragedy of DUI accounts for nearly one third of traffic fatalities, The City of West Sacramento needs the high visibility enforcement and public awareness that checkpoints provide.”

In previous years, West Sacramento officers have told the News-Ledger that they often announce such checkpoints in advance — while keeping the location secret — in order to provide a deterrent for drunk driving. There’s always an available detour for those who wish to go around the checkpoint, they have said — and this detour helps ensure the checkpoints do not create a situation of unlawful, mandatory searches.

Copyright News-Ledger 2012

Singers raise voices at Nugget

West Sacramento Community Singers at Nugget in Southport (News-Ledger)

FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER — DEC 26, 2012 —

The West Sacramento Community Singers — a group of enthusiastic amateurs — provided some holiday cheer on Sunday afternoon for shoppers inside Nugget in Southport.

[adrotate group=”7″] The singers summoned forth some carols and other upbeat music in the store’s coffee shop, with dozens of people sipping coffee or just enjoying the music. For information on the vocal group, email westsacsingers@gmail.com. (News-Ledger photo)

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You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to FreeTrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).